When the green caterpillars of the box borer are visible, the infestation is usually already well advanced. Then the boxwood owner must act quickly to drive them away from the branches. The high-pressure cleaner can be an effective and environmentally friendly helper.
How do I fight boxwood borers with a high-pressure cleaner?
Use the high-pressure cleaner against caterpillars; it cannot combat butterflies and eggs. Direct thewater jetonto the boxwood so that the strong pressure flushes thecaterpillars onto the ground. Thencollectpick them up anddispose of them.
How high should I set the water pressure?
The stronger the pressure of the water jet, the less the caterpillars can withstand it and fall from the branches. At the same time, the branches of the boxwood must not suffer any damage. That's why you shouldslowly approach the ideal pressure, because every boxwood is different in size and shape. Remember that branches slow down the flow of water. Therefore, push the spray nozzle deeper into the interior of the crown, where many larvae are also located.
How can I collect the caterpillars quickly and completely?
It has proven useful to cover thefloorunder and around the infected boxwood over a large areawith a tarpaulin A very hard jet of water can If the caterpillars are caught, they can be thrown further away. The caterpillars are easy to see on the tarpaulin and can be picked up quickly. They are also considered non-toxic, which is why direct contact should not necessarily be avoided.
Do I need to take any other measures besides high-pressure cleaner?
By removing many voracious larvae from the branches, the high-pressure cleaner can significantly reduce the boxwood borer infestation. But since the crown of the boxwood is very branched and dense, there is a possibility that individual caterpillars will survive the procedure. New caterpillars can also hatch from eggs. Thereforemustusuallyfurther control measures follow
Which home remedies help against the box tree moth?
In the home garden, the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis and various very effective home remedies are used to combat this pest. For example:
- Algae limestone
- Soap solution
- Neem oil
You should also cut back your boxwood heavily in March to remove the majority of the overwintering larvae. Encouraging predators such as sparrows and great tits helps in the long term. Find out about other preventative measures.
Tip
Rent high-pressure cleaner instead of buying
The caterpillars are too numerous to collect, but at the same time it's not worth the expensive purchase of a high-pressure cleaner for you? Renting is a possible alternative. Most hardware stores rent high-pressure cleaners on a weekly, daily or even hourly basis.
